Crochet Zipper Clutch DIY

 

School is coming soon for me! I start in 5 days! So excited! Except that I’ve only finished one of my back to school projects. Eek! Of course, having my finger out of commission was unfortunate. It’s a little better now – I finally stopped using the splint, which means I can crochet again! So, let’s all enjoy a crochet tutorial.

I realize this is more of a “How-I-Did-It” than a tutorial since I don’t have specific stitch numbers, but hopefully this can help you make one if you so choose.

As school begins, I really wanted a pencil pouch. I have about two dozen pens and pencils I like to bring to school – I love colour choices when I write notes. 🙂 Of course, the only pencil pouches I could find that weren’t too childish were too ordinary.

Snore.

So I sat for days and stared at this thing, wondering what I could do to make it less snooze-worthy. I considered embroidering it, but couldn’t think of a pattern I wanted to do. I thought about just sewing some simple buttons onto it, but I didn’t have a whole lot of buttons in my stash that I really liked. I almost painted it, but I only have one colour of fabric paint. SO WHAT ELSE IS THERE?!

Crochet of course!! I decided to crochet a little shell for this pouch with some of my scrap yarn. My yarn bin is overflowing, so I’m always looking for good projects to use up my bits and pieces.

As I was making this, I was thinking that this would make a great pouch for anything – pens, paintbrushes, crochet hooks, I could even use it as a little purse! Anyway, let’s do this.

This pink yarn has a little sparkle in it, and it’s really sort of special to me. It was the first yarn I bought and brought to my Mom’s so that she could teach me how to crochet. I also used it (along with a bright blue yarn) to make my first crocheted piece – a super bright scarf. 🙂

To start this clutch, chain until it is long enough to wrap around the case and slip stitch into the first chain. Make sure there are no twists in the chain! Keep single crocheting in the round until it gets tall enough to fit over the clutch. Sew one end closed so that it makes a little pouch.

(I ran out of pink before it was tall enough, but I found some sparkle black yarn, so I guess it’s a colour-blocked pouch).

The top of the shell should reach to the zipper. That’s how you know it’s ready.

I crocheted a little scallop edge on the top to add a little feminine touch, but if this pencil pouch is being made for a boy, you’d probably want to avoid this step. 🙂

Embellish the pouch with buttons, ribbons, embroidery, whatever you want!

Sew the pouch into the shell with matching thread. I did it about 1/4″ below the zipper. I (obviously) did the sewing by hand, but if you’re more skilled than I am you could use a machine.

Finished! Stuff it full of your pens, cash, marbles (so you don’t lose them!), or anything else you want!

Keep in mind that this could be done with ANY zipper bag. Get creative! Do this over a thermal bag and take your lunch with you (that’s actually a really good idea…. I might have to do that)! Do this with a larger bag and use it to keep crayons and notebooks together for you kids, or use it as a first aid kit, or to keep diapers and wipes together in your diaper bag (I’m going to be honest, I don’t have kids so I don’t know if that’s an issue or not, but you get the idea). Possibilities for customization are endless, and those are my favourite kinds of projects.

I have a lot of great projects lined up, so I’m sure I’ll be back with more soon. 🙂